Dorset Park Youth Council

In order to address the lack of accessible, youth designated and youth friendly space in the Dorset Park community, the Dorset Park Youth Council (DPYC) partnered with the Youth Challenge Fund, the City of Toronto and United Way Toronto to create a sports pad at McGregor Park Recreation Centre.

The idea for the space came out of a project that engaged youth in the DPYC to conduct peer-to-peer focus groups and surveys to discuss and address the challenges and barriers that exist for young people in the Dorset Park community. Youth identified the lack of youth accessible and youth run space as a barrier to youth engagement and a deterrent of community safety.

For two years, youth led the planning and designing of the space and were key players from start to finish in the overall development process. YCF and other adult allies supported the endeavour.

In August 2009, the sports pad was officially launched at a community ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor David Miller, United Way Toronto President & CEO Frances Lankin, and Youth Challenge Fund Executive Director Pamela Grant.

Members of the DPYC are busy developing their next project - creating an indoor youth-friendly space at McGregor Park Recreation Centre.